As I sit here at my computer, root touch up dye soaking my hair at 7 pm on Thanksgiving eve, it has never been clearer how things have changed for me. Years prior I would be showering and mentally planning my hair, make up and outfit for my favorite bar night of the year. I would be itching to get out and would have anxiety pains in my tummy over who I would bump into that night. I saw it as a night to get exceedingly hammered because I knew my hangover would be met by a carb addict's frienzy of mashed potatoes, stuffing, turkey and a piece of every desert that blessed the table. Thanksgiving for me was all about well, me, and at the time, I was ok with it, I was more than ok with it. I was happy, and thankful. Thankful to my friends that joined in on the Thanksgiving eve fun, I was thankful to my straightener that allowed my normally wavy hair to be sleek and straight, I was thankful to my younger brothers who generously served as designated drivers to the mere tune of a 20 spot, I was thankful to my family for not starting the next day fesitivies till roughly 2pm allowing maximum sleep for hangover cure and I was thankful to Marlboro, because I loved having a quick smoke after a nice shot of SoCo and Lime. Those many Thanksgiving eve night's were a 20 something's dream. I was a cardigan wearing, (so what it's 30 degrees, the real crime here would be having to drag a winter coat around all night bar hopping) hooker booted, trouble maker and I lived it and breathed it. And honestly, I wouldn't trade it for anything because, well, because it was a damn good time and because I am now able to appreciate what my Thanksgiving eve's have become. They are about making sure my boys are in the most adorable, coordinating outfits (not matching mind you, coordinating, much like Sonny goes with Cher and John goes with Yoko, or for the younger generation, how Taylor Swift goes with her cat, Meredith), carefully selecting a recipe so I can bring something new to share , looking forward to spending the day with family (not just looking forward to the food), it's about reflecting on my family, on what we are blessed with and what we have come through, what has made us stronger, and what has changed us for the better.

For me, I would never say how I spent one Thanksgiving Eve was better than the other, I needed to experience them both. To recogonize that both, are pretty kick ass in their own ways.

I am thankful for so much, but today I am thankful for Thanksgiving Eves. The crazy, fun, up to 4am, laughing, drinking, dance fulled Thanksgiving Eves of my 20's and the laid back, PJ wearing, movie by the fire Thanksgiving Eves of my 30's. So in closing, here is to Thanksgiving Eve's, I salute you!